News in 2023

Professor John Coggon appointed to World Health Organization Technical Advisory Group on Ethics and Climate Health 13 December 2023 The Law School’s Professor John Coggon has been appointed to a World Health Organization technical advisory group on embedding ethics in health and climate change policy.
University of Bristol Law School celebrates 90th birthday  1 December 2023 The University of Bristol Law School marked its 90th anniversary with a Gala Dinner held at the Wills Memorial Building on 18 November 2023. Following recent receptions in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, this formal event in the Great Hall was a fitting way to close these special celebrations with our alumni community.
“It’s fantastic to see my work having an impact in the real world.” Q&A with Law Commissioner Professor Sarah Green 30 November 2023 The Law School’s Professor Sarah Green, current Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law, was recently recognised at the British Legal Technology Awards 2023, winning the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award. In our Q&A we asked Sarah about what the award means to her, her work at the Law Commission, and her advice for students starting on their journey into Law.
Professor Rachel Murray awarded ESRC Outstanding International Impact Prize 16 November 2023 The Law School’s Rachel Murray, Professor of International Human Rights, was awarded the prestigious Economic and Social Research Council Celebrating Impact Prize 2023 at a ceremony held in the Royal Society in London yesterday, 15 November.
In conversation with Sir Nicholas Mostyn 7 November 2023 Law School alumnus, Sir Nicholas Mostyn (LLB 1979) retired from his position as a British High Court Judge in the Family Division, earlier this summer. His career spanning decades saw him preside over some contentious and groundbreaking cases.
Pioneering research by Professor Emma Hitchings reveals stark reality of divorcing couples’ finances 1 November 2023 High-profile acrimonious divorce cases making news headlines have created the false impression court room showdowns and large financial settlements are commonplace. But a new report, led by the University of Bristol and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, exposes for the first time how most divorcees in England and Wales have surprisingly little to share.
Publication: ‘Sexual History Evidence and the Rape Trial’ by Professor Joanne Conaghan and Dr Yvette Russell 30 October 2023 Bristol University Press has published a new book by the Law School’s Professor of Law Joanne Conaghan and Associate Professor in Law and Feminist Theory Yvette Russell.
Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne awarded Philip Leverhulme Prize 20 October 2023 Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne, Associate Professor in the University of Bristol Law School, is among 30 extraordinary researchers, including two from the University, to win a national 2023 Philip Leverhulme Prize for his vital research in the field of international law and armed conflict.
Keep an open mind and keep learning about the diverse areas of law: Q&A with graduate Aryan Mandal 19 October 2023 With our International Internship Scholar Scheme (IISS) open until the end of October, we caught up with previous IISS award winner and recent Law graduate Aryan Mandal (LLB 2023). In this Q&A, we talked to Aryan about what the award meant to him, his favourite things about his studies, the extra-curricular activities he participated in and his advice for new law students.
Society of Scholars welcomes Professor Paula Giliker as President for 2023-24 2 October 2023 Professor Paula Giliker, Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Bristol Law School, started her tenure as President of the Society of Legal Scholars 2023-24 on 1 October 2023.
Wellcome Trust Scholarships for the Law School’s LLM in Health, Law, and Society 2 October 2023 UK fee-paying applicants to the September 2024 intake of the University of Bristol’s groundbreaking LLM in Health, Law, and Society are invited to apply to a scholarship scheme that is generously funded by the Wellcome Trust.
University of Bristol Law School rises in two national rankings league tables 19 September 2023 The Law School has risen two places in the latest university league table rankings, securing the School’s reputation as one of the leading law schools in the UK.
Celebrating the launch of the Centre for Environmental Law and Sustainability 5 September 2023 The Law School is delighted to announce the launch of a new centre of research. The Centre for Environmental Law and Sustainability (CELS) is an international centre of excellence for critical scholarship, teaching and public engagement with environmental law and sustainability research.
Publication: ‘Regulating the Sea’ by Professor Margherita Pieraccini 7 August 2023 Cambridge University Press has published a new monograph by the Law School’s Professor Margherita Pieraccini. ‘Regulating the Sea’ (Cambridge University Press, 2022), the first book written on English marine conservation regulation from a socio-legal perspective, provides an in-depth analysis of key aspects of Marine Protected Areas regulation in England, offering access to an under-investigated field.
A place filled with opportunity: Q&A with Mckenzie-Kohl Tuckett 15 July 2023 For World Youth Skills Day, we caught up with accomplished public speaker McKenzie-Kohl Tuckett, second-year LLB student and the first-ever Bermudian to give a speech at the House of Commons. In this Q&A she shared her thoughts on studying Law at Bristol, being awarded the International Intern Scholar Scheme prize, representing Bermuda's Youth Parliament, and her top tips for confidence in public speaking.
University of Bristol Law School partner with BPP’s Bridge Programme 16 June 2023 The University of Bristol Law School will be partnering with BPP University Law School’s Bridge Programme, a free career development course to help aspiring solicitors and barristers prepare for their future careers.
New Head of School announced 8 June 2023 We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Catherine Kelly as the incoming Head of the University of Bristol Law School.
A real sense of teamwork: Q&A with LLB student Toby Ferris 23 May 2023 Ahead of our Open Days coming up on June 16-17, we caught up with second-year Law student and Chair of the Volunteering and Fundraising Network Toby Ferris, in a Q&A about his law studies, extra-curricular activities and favourite things about Bristol.
Publication: ‘Diversity, Merit and Power in the C-Suite’ by Dr Eleanore Hickman 18 May 2023 Hart Publishing has published a new book by the Law School’s Dr Eleanore Hickman. ‘Diversity, Merit and Power in the C-Suite’ offers an in-depth assessment of the meaning of corporate power - and an essential consideration of how a more balanced distribution of power in the boardroom could and should be advanced.
Professor Paula Giliker’s Vicarious Liability Scholarship cited in the UK Supreme Court 12 May 2023 The Law School’s Professor of Comparative Law, Paula Giliker, was cited in the UK Supreme Court’s recent decision of Trustees of Barry Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses v BXB.
Don’t be afraid to try new things: Q&A with LLB student Lee Ling Chu 3 May 2023 Final-year Undergraduate Law student Lee Ling Chu was recognised for legal work experience undertaken overseas at the Law School’s International Internship Scheme Scholar (IISS) awards earlier this year. We caught up with her in a Q&A about her studies, her extra-curricular activities – including starting a business and entering the New Enterprise Competition – and her favourite things about Bristol.
HRIC Statement to the ACHPR 75th Session 3 May 2023 On 3rd May Professor Rachel Murray delivered a statement on behalf of the Human Rights Implementation Centre to the 75th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Call for Papers: 'Insiders and Outsiders in the History of Law' 28 April 2023 The University of Bristol Law School is delighted to host the 26th British Legal History Conference, which will take place between 3 and 6 July 2024. Submissions are now open for abstracts on the conference theme: 'Insiders and Outsiders in the History of Law'.
Omar Madhloom awarded ALT conference prize for best joint paper, co-presented with Law Clinic students 27 April 2023 The Law School’s Omar Madhloom, together with Marc Johnson (Cardiff Metropolitan University), was awarded The Chris Gale Memorial Prize at the Association of Law Teachers conference last week, 18 April 2023, where they presented their research in collaboration with University of Bristol Law Clinic students Husnaa Haaniyah Mohd Sahid and Shiyun Lee.
New just net zero policy project led by Dr Colin Nolden awarded £150,000 24 April 2023 The Law School’s Dr Colin Nolden has been awarded £150,000 by the British Academy, through their Net Zero Policy Programme, to lead a 15-month project as Principal Investigator. The project - Implementing effective and just net zero policies (IMPERFECT) - starts on 1 May 2023.
Law School launches new LawTech Industry Board 6 April 2023 The LawTech Industry Board brings together leading industry experts, practitioners and alumni to join the Law School’s academics in advancing legal tech research and education—two key components of our research-led LLM in Law, Innovation and Technology programme.
Law subjects taught at the University of Bristol ranked among best in the world 28 March 2023 The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject have been released, confirming that subjects at the University of Bristol, including Law, are among the very best in the world.
A deeper understanding of the law: Q&A with MA Student Yenli Nguyen 17 March 2023 Second-year MA Law student Yenli Nguyen was recognised for legal work experience undertaken overseas at the Law School’s recent International Internship Scheme Scholar (IISS) awards. We caught up with her in a Q&A about the MA and the transferable skills it pushes you to develop, her extra-curricular activities and her favourite things about Bristol. She also has some great advice for new students.
Publication: ‘Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge’ by Dr Foluke Adebisi 13 March 2023 Bristol University Press has published a new book by University of Bristol Law School Associate Professor, Dr Foluke Adebisi. ‘Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge: Reflections on Power and Possibility’ provides an essential examination of the meanings of decolonisation and explores how this examination can inform teaching, researching, and practising of law.
A fantastic and unforgettable year: Q&A with LLM Graduate Matias Guarda 10 March 2023 Ahead of our Postgraduate Open Day on 22 March, we caught up with recent graduate and winner of the prize for Best Performance in the LLM International Commercial Law, Matias Guarda, as he shared his inspiration for coming to Bristol, what he loved about the city, and his plans for the future.
Exploring Careers in Social Justice: Q&A with alumna Sydney-Anne McAllister 8 March 2023 This International Women’s Day we caught up with feminist activist and Law School alumna Sydney-Anne McAllister (LLB 2020), in a Q&A about her work in the charity sector, founding not-for-profit lobby-protest organisations, and her advice to students just starting their journey into Law at Bristol.
Law graduates recognised in Alumni Awards 2023 3 March 2023 Each year, the University of Bristol recognises alumni who have made remarkable contributions to society through the Alumni Awards. Among the 2023 winners are Law School alumni politician The Rt Hon. the Lord Paul Boateng; international human rights lawyer Ben Emmerson CBE KC; and recent graduate and barrister Raeesa Rajmohamed.
New diversity mentoring scheme launched in collaboration with law firm, Burges Salmon 28 February 2023 Law students from underrepresented backgrounds will be offered exclusive access to a top UK law firm, Burges Salmon through a new mentoring partnership with the University of Bristol Law School.
Celebrating our February 2023 graduates and prize winners 15 February 2023 This week the Law School celebrated students graduating from our postgraduate programmes, with particular congratulations to our prize winners who attended a ceremony in Bristol on Tuesday 14 February.
Launching soon: Centre for Private and Commercial Law 20 January 2023 The Law School is delighted to announce the launch of a new centre of research. The Centre for Private and Commercial Law (CPCL) is an international centre of excellence for critical scholarship, teaching and public engagement with private and commercial law.
Professor Judy Laing cited in government report on new Mental Health Bill 19 January 2023 Today the House of Commons and House of Lords Joint Committee, appointed to consider the Government's draft Bill to reform the Mental Health Act 1983, published its report. With years of extensive research in the area of mental health law, policy and human rights, the Law School’s Professor Judy Laing has been active in shaping and responding to the Draft Mental Health Bill, which has important implications for the health and wellbeing of thousands of people in England and Wales.
Legal experts contribute to House of Commons AI governance inquiry 18 January 2023 Written evidence submitted by the Law School’s Dr Philippa Collins, Kit Fotheringham and Professor Albert Sanchez-Graells has been published by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee to its inquiry on 'Governance of artificial intelligence' (AI).
A year in legal research: 2022 in review 13 January 2023 As we launch into the new year, we take a moment to look back at some of the national and global issues the Law School's experts were tackling in 2022 – a year that saw us rank #3 for legal research in the UK (THE analysis of REF 2021). Fighting for reproductive rights, supporting striking workers and responding to an illegal war are just a few examples that illustrate what research in action really looks like. Find out what else our academics were up to in 2022.
Dr Eleanore Hickman joins first UK-wide Young Academy 10 January 2023 The University of Bristol Law School is delighted to announce that Dr Eleanore Hickman is among the first members of the new UK Young Academy – a network of early career researchers and professionals established to help tackle local and global issues and promote meaningful change.